Red October! Phillies end 11-year playoff drought with 3-0 shutout of Astros
After 11 long seasons, the Phillies are finally back in the playoffs, ending the NL’s longest playoff drought with a 3-0 shutout victory over the Astros in Houston.
Phillies (87-73) Beat Astros (104-56)
- Winning Pitcher: Aaron Nola (11-13, 3.25)
- Losing Pitcher: Lance McCullers Jr. (4-2, 2.27)
- Save: Zach Eflin (1, 4.04)
The Eagles are 4-0 and the Philadelphia Phillies are in the playoffs. Pinch me, I think i’m in heaven! Seriously, it doesn’t get any better than this. If the Phillies can somehow make it out of the wildcard round and get back to Philadelphia, Citizens Bank Park will be out of control.
Wow! I honestly had given up hope at multiple points over the last decade that the Phillies would ever make it back to the post season. Yes, it took MLB adding a 6th playoff team in each league for this good but not great edition of the Phils to reach the playoffs with under 90 wins, but here we are, invited to the same dance as the 110 win Los Angeles Dodgers team.
The Phillies weren’t the best team in 2008, but managed to win the whole thing. All it takes is getting hot for the right three weeks in October.
Shoutout to Aaron Nola who saved his best performance of the season for the biggest of moments. After 8 seasons as a Phillies pitcher Nola took the ball tonight and delivered 6.2 near perfect innings while striking out 8 and allowing only 2 hits. Nola carried a perfect game into the 7th inning before Yordan Alvarez singled to right field with two outs. You could see it in his face, Nola was locked in and wouldn’t be the reason his team missed out on the postseason for yet another season.
Kyle Schwarber had yet another multi-home run game, his 8th of the season, including a solo shot to lead the game off in the opening frame. Schwarber’s 45th and 46th home runs is good for the National League lead and also a career-high.
Bryson Stott and Schwarber hit back-to-back home runs off Jose Urquidy in the 8th inning to give the Phillies and Zach Eflin two crucial insurance runs. Eflin set the Astros down 1-2-3 in the 9th to pick up his first career save before he was mobbed on the mound by a group full of guys who will make their first playoff appearance.
Congrats specifically to Jean Segura who is no longer the longest tenured player in baseball without a playoff appearance. Both he and JT Realmuto snapped streaks over 1,000 games played without playing meaningful October baseball.
The Phillies will face off against either the St. Louis Cardinals or the New York Mets
RING IT!
Kyle Schwarber hits his NL leading 45th home run of the season to give the Phils a huge early lead.
1-0 Phils
Bryson Stott makes a fantastic diving play and throw to get Alex Bregman at first base.
Aaron Nola strikes gets Martin Maldonado looking to end the 3rd inning.
Aaron Nola cruises through the heart of the Astros order in a dominant 4th inning.
Aaron Nola strikes out two Astros looking to end the 6th inning with a perfect game.
Aaron Nola was dominant in perhaps his best start of the season when it mattered the most.
Jose Alvarado gets Kyle Tucker swinging to end the Astros threat in the 7th inning.
Bryson Stott takes Jose Urquidy deep in the 8th inning for a solo home run.
2-0 Phils
Kyle Schwarber hits his second home run of the night, his 46th of the season, to give the Phils a huge insurance run.
3-0 Phils
Alvarado brought the nastiness!
Up Next for the Phillies
The Phillies have officially clinched a playoff spot but will look to win the series against the Astros in Houston at Minute Maid Park.
Ranger Suarez (10-6, 3.37) will toe the rubber facing off against Justin Verlander (17-4, 1.80) with the first pitch scheduled for 8:10 pm.
NBC Sports Philadelphia will carry the broadcast of the game.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Philadelphia Phillies
